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Paddy Bushe

Petals

for Philip Casey

The waitress placed a vase of grassland flowersOn the table where I was reading The Water Star.Hesitant, practising English, she asked its name,Then frowned at my phrasebook’s characters.Shui Xing? .... But, in water, is no star.

As I mimed reflection, pointing to huge distances,Her eyes lit with sudden understandingAnd she laughed with delight at the image.I turned again, smiling, to my book.Two petals shimmered on the open page.